Dark Sunset's P.O.V I looked around the small underground encampment. We didn't have enough supplies, and Luna paced around near the rough rock wall surrounding us on all sides. Everything was cramped, and many didn't have a place to sleep, forcing them to be scattered out on the floor. I walked over to the tunnel leading out of the encampment, and looked back on the camp. I walked out of the camp and made my way out into the world of war, chaos, death, and madness. Twilight Sparkle's P.O.V I looked out from my castle, and saw the great madness that Celestia created. It was beautiful, and the taste of blood in the air made me even happier. I eventually hoped to destroy all other groups opposing Celestia, gaining full control of Equestria. The Empire was growing large, and consequently Celestia's blood-lust grew stronger and stronger. With each passing day she enslaved more people, dropped more bombs, and wiped out more rebels. Even now, as I looked out from the balcony, the head of a rebel was being put on a stake for all others to see. Upon the head of the corpse, laid the emblem of the Lunar Republic. I turned my head in disgust and spat on the ground. I hated rebels, but I hated Princess Luna even more. Huh.....princess......she didn't even deserve that name! Empress Celestia should have sent her back to the moon long ago. I left the balcony and went back into the castle. Dark Sunset's P.O.V Outside, some of our mercenaries were preparing for a raid. I walked over to Scootaloo, the raid's leader and asked "Mind if I go on the raid with you guys?" She looked at me and said I could go, which to me was strange for she was much younger than me, and to ask her permission for something seemed very wrong. I went over to Rumble and helped him pack some supplies. I feared for our safety. We had children going out on raids against whole armies, and we hoped to survive. It was madness, but it was needed to be done if we were to defeat the empire. Everyone was ready to go, and we headed out. Scootaloo's P.O.V We looked out on the group of about 20 of Celestia's soldiers. There were 4 surrounding the camp on guard, 5 sitting around a fire, and the remainder were sleeping in the 3 large tents they set up. I turned to the only unicorn that went on this expedition and asked "Do you sense anything strange?" She closed her eyes for a moment and concentrated. "No......I can't sense anything, but be careful." I raised my hoof and shouted "CHARGE!!" We all charged out of our cover and attacked Celestia's forces from behind. I pulled a dagger from out of its worn leather sheath and placed it on the throat of a guard. Before he could do anything, I whispered in his ear "Let the night live on" and slit his throat. I whipped around and ran towards a group of guards attacking Rumble. They had him backed up against a tree, and he was slashing violently with one of his knives. As I ran up to him and stabbed on of the guards in the eye, another one caught my shoulder with his spear. I jerked my dagger out of the dead soldier's skull and swung around, slicing one of the major veins in the guard's neck and killing him. I dove over two of the attackers and joined Rumble by the tree. "Got here just in time huh?" he looked at me. I nodded and shoved my dagger into the nearest soldier's chest piercing his ribcage. Rumble finished him off by crushing his head with his already bloody hoof. I walked away and went into the tents. Everyone was inside, and still asleep. I went from pony to pony, slitting their throats. As I left the tent, I looked back and kept walking, both proud and ashamed of what I had done. We rode out shortly after and set the camp on fire. Rarity's P.O.V I quickly walked to Celestia's castle, mumbling under my breath what I had heard. I banged on the door as I arrived, and was surprised to see Spike open the door. I tried stifled my hate for him "Well hello Spike, nice surprise seeing you here......w-weren't you part of the Peace Corps?" He looked at me with seething anger and replied sharply "I was until Celestia attacked our base and took all of us captive..." I went inside and was escorted to the throne room, where anything that had Luna even mentioned was destroyed. Empress Celestia looked down on me as I bowed and told her of the news. "So..... first another villager has rebelled..." Celestia's neck practically snapped as her head turned and she asked angrily "What group did they join?WHICH ONE!!?" I probably looked terrified as I answered quietly "She joined the P.A.R.T.Y Mercenaries M'lady" Celestia stood and got in my face "What other news?! Any of the N.L.R??" I nodded and explained the raid. The Empress got on her hind legs and struck me down. A torrent or blood erupted from my head as my skull cracked and fell to the floor. Celestia walked back to her throne and looked at the blood on her hooves. She quickly flicked it off and called the guards. Two came forward and helped me up. They walked me to Twilight's room, where she mended my wounds, but left an unsightly scar. It was a crooked line going from the top of my forehead down past my eye ending right at the start of my snout. I stormed out of the castle, determined to impress the Empress, even if I died in the process. I would get Princess Luna's head on a stake.................... End of Part 1
